Light restricting device



'Sept. 25, BARTOW LIGHT RESTRICTING- DEVICE Filed Sept 15, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 25, 1945. J. B. BARTOW LIGHT RESTRICTING DEIICE Filed Sept. 15, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 $1417 5. .Bztzjw 53 15s flrrusya Sept. 25, 1945. J. B. BARTOW LIGHT RESTRICTING DEVIQE Filed Sept. 15., 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept. 25, 1945. BARTOW 2,335,755

LIGHT RESTRICTING DEVICE Filed Sept. 15, 1942 4 Sheets-sheaf 4 1411 llaanfiw Patented Sept. 25, 1945 LIGHT RESTRICTING nnvlcn' John B. Bartow, Blue Bell, Pa., assignor to Bartow Beacons, Inc., Philadel of. Pennsylvania phia, Pa., a corporation Application September15, 1942, Serial No. 458,395

a 7' Claims. (Cl. 240'1) This invention relates: to light-restricting devices, and more particularly to a novel device for blackout or dimount purposes. While the device may be adapted for use with any light source, such as ordinary house lights, it is particularly useful in conjunction with emergency signal devices, commonly known as flares.

There are now in common use electrically operable emergency signal devices, or flares which, when once set into operation, cannot be turned off. An example of such a device is shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,118,996. Devices of this character are sold and" shipped in packages and it is desirable to be able to include several such devices in a single package. There, is, therefore, an urgent need for a 1ight-restricting device which may be used in conjunction with such an emergency signal device during a blackout, and which may be packagedwith the latter without imposing any limitation on the desired multiple packaging of such signal devices.

One object of the present invention is to provide a novel light-restricting device of the character described. hereinafter.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive and highly efiicient light-restricting device which is particularly adapted for use in conjunction with emergency signal. devices of the: above-mentioned character, although not limited to such use- A further object of the invention is to provide a light-restricting device which may be formed of inexpensive semi-rigid opaque material such as stifi paper or cardboard.

Other objects and features of the invention. will be apparent hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings: I

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of the light-restricting device;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view showing the device in position upon an emergency signal device of the type shown in the above-'mentioned.

patent, the latter device being shown in dot-anddash outline;

Fig. 3 is a. sectional-view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig.4 is a face view of the hood element of the light-restricting device prior to assemblage of the parts thereof;

Fig; 5 is a perspective view of a composite mounting and light-masking element prior to-as-' semblage of the parts;

Fig. 6 illustrates the blank from which the element of Fig. 5 is formed;

Fig; 7' is a perspective view showing the parts Fig. 9 is. a side view of the same withone hood.

in raised position and with a portion or the device broken away for the sake of illustration;

Fig. 10 is an elevational view taken from the right side of Fig. 9

Figs. 11 to 13 are fragmentary perspective views illustrating the operation. of one of' the hoods;

Figs. 14 to lfi arevi'ews supplementing Figs. 11' to 13, respective1y, to illustrate the operation more clearly;

Fig.1? is an exploded perspective View showing the two principal parts of .thed'evi'ce;

Fig. 18 is a face view of the blankfrom which" one part is formed;

Fig. 19 is a similar view of the blank from which the other part is formed; and

Fig. 20 is a perspective view of oneof the spring elements employed in each hood.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 7 of the drawings, there is illustrated one form of the light-restricting device Which comprises two separable parts or elements, both of which are formed of a suitable semi-rigid opaque material such as stiff paper or cardboard. In Figs. 1 to 3, these two-parts or elements are shown in assembled relation'and are designated I and 2 respectively. Part l comprises a closed band or loop 3' which is preferably rectangular in shape for a purpose which will appear presently and'which has integral tabs.

4' and light-masks 5 integral therewith and extending therefrom. This part of the device ispreferably formed from a blanksuch as shown. in Fig. 6 having end tabs 6. The blank is folded or bent along the dot-and-dash fold lines and: the ends are secured together to provide the: fin- Ordinary wire staiished part shown in Fig. 5. ples shown at l in Fig 5 may be employed; to secure the ends together. i

Part 2 of the device comprisesahoodtrsecuredl to a strapll. As shown in Fig. 4 the hood 8 preferably comprises a circular disk of: cardboard; or stiff paper or the like secured to. member 9 of like material by means. of ordinary wire: staples I0; Member 9 has extending tabs It which;ma-y be inserted within the closed band 3 as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The light-restricting device is. adapted. for use with a flare device of the. type shownin. Figs.

2, 3 and 'Z', particularly the latter figure. Sucln shipping purposes, the part 2 may be wrapped about the flare device and removably secured thereto by means of a rubber band I5. From Fig. 7 it will be seen that the two-part lights restricting device may be packaged andshipped with the flare device without interfering in any way with the desired multiple packaging of such device mentioned above.

When it is desired to use the light-restricting device, the parts'thereof are assembled on the flare device in the manner'shown in Figs. 2 and 3,

the member 9 setting upon and conforming 'to' 'theshape of the lamp housing or canopy I3 and the tabs I I being disposed within the closed band '3 to'retain the hood part in place; The masks 5 i may be solid throughout to eliminate entirely a direct light from the lamp or they may be provided with narrow slits I6 to emit 'a very small part of the'direct light. Reflected light from the lamp is emitted on each side of the device through the semi-circular areas II which are'not covered by the light masks. The tabs 4' cover the upper surface of the cylindrical casing I2. which might tend to reflect light upwardly. Thus these elements prevent such undesired reflection of the light. It will be seen, therefore, that the lightrestricting deviceeffectively eliminates all but'a small portion of the emitted light and the light which is emitted is directed horizontally or downward and not upwardly.

Thus it will be seen that the above described form of the invention provides an inexpensive blackout device for an emergency signal device or,

flare which also lends itself nicely to packaging and shipping with the flare device and permits the desired multiple packaging of such device.

Referring now to Figs. 8 to 20, there is illustrated an alternative form of the light-restricting device in which the parts thereof are permanently secured together and the hood portions are movable between lowered and raised positions. This formlof the device comprises two parts I8 and I9,.as shown most clearly in Fig. 17, which correspond, generally to the parts I and 2 of the previously described embodiment. Both of these parts are formed of a suitable semi-rigid opaque material, such as cardboard or stiff paper. Part I8 comprises a I tabs 2I' and light masks 22 which serve the same purposes as' the corresponding elements in the previously described embodiment. In this in-:

stance, however, part I8 has formedintegrally therewith an arch member 23. Part I8 is preferably formed from a blank, such as shown in Fig.18, which isfolded along the dotted fold lines to obtain the structure shown in Fig. 17.

Part I9 comprises a central body portion 24 which fits over the arch member 23 and collapsi ble hood portions 25 and 26 onopposite sides of the said body portion. Each hood portion comclosed band 26 having integral 29 in the form of a U-shaped piece of stifi wire, as shown in Fig. 20, is attached to each of the hood portions 25 and 26, as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 17. The spring element extends along the edge portion of the hinged member 21 and along the edges of the adjacent side sections. As illustrated, the edge portions with which the spring element is associated are folded over the spring element and stapled as at 30, thus retaining the spring element in place. While the spring may be omitted, its presence is desirable for the reasons set forth hereinafter.

The parts I8 and I9 are permanently assembled by placing part I9 over part I8 and by stapling the two together as at 3| to provide the assembled device shown in Figs. 8 to 10. The assembled device is adapted to be placed over the projecting lamp canopy or housing of a flare device 32of the type previously mentioned as shown in Figs. 8 to 10. In Fig. 9, the light-restricting device and a portion of the lamp housing of the flare device are broken away to show the lamp 33 and the light-reflecting surfaces 34 and 3 5 which are employed in this type of flare devicefi It will be seen from the above description and the illustration of Fig. 9 that the hoods 25 and 26 are individually movable from a lowered or collapsed position to a raised or extended position; In Fig. 9, hood 25 is shown in the lowered position, while hood 26 is shown in the raised position.

This collapsible hood structure enables the lightrestricting device to be packed and shipped with the flare device While mounted thereon without of such flare devices, and it also enables control of the emitted light, as will be explained p'resently. V i 7 The spring element associated with each hood and the foldable side sections form a toggle or over-center arrangement by means of which the",

hood is moved with a snap action to either of its positions in response to slight manual movement I and is positively retained ineither position. This action is illustrated in Figs. 11 to 16. In Fig. 11; the hood 25 is shown in its extendedor'raisedposition and the toggle elements on one side are shown in, Fig. 14. In Fig. 12, the hood has been? moved toward its lowered position to a point where the toggle action is about to take place. As shown in Fig. 15, the arms of the spring element are sprung outwardly and upon slight fur-' ther movement of the hood towardits lowered position, the arms of the spring element move inwardly, forcibly collapsing-the foldable sections 2 8 and moving the hood to its lowered position,

' as shown in Figs. 13 and 16. It will be seen that prises a member 21 foldably hinged to the-body I 7 portion 24 and'foldable side sections 28 interconnectingmember 21 and the sides of the body portion, as shown in Fig. l'7..,:Aspring element the foldable side sections function cooperatively with the spring element to effect the toggle action,

the said sections forcing thegarm s'of 'the sp'ring, clement outwardl during'theinitial'movement and permitting the said arms to rfeturn during final movement. The sameaction takes place when the hood is moved from itsflowered posi tion to itsraised position. i

, In packaging and shipping, the light-restrict ing device is placed on the flare device, as shown in Figs- 8 to 10, and both hoods are collapsed. In such condition, the light-restricting device does not interfere with the desired multiple pack f aging of the flare devices, as mentioned 'pr'eviously.

The light mask 22 m each side of-the device is arranged to eliminate substantially all; of. the

direct light from the lamp .33Q'so that; only reflected 1 m i aihm h e ave rq r s" interfering with the: desired multiple packaging of the windows on the opposite sides of the lamp housing. Of course, if desired, a, narrow slit may be provided in each of the light masks as in the previously described embodiment. Each hood when raised functions cooperatively with the associated light mask to prevent the emitted light from being observed from above. In any instance, where it is desired to restrict the emitted light even further, one or both of the hoods may be lowered, thereby greatly decreasing the amount of emitted light. In the illustrated form of the device the hoods when lowered will shut off the light almost entirely. Of course, it is readily possible to design the device so as to vary the amount of light emitted with the hoods in either positions.

Although two embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto but is capable of other forms within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A light-restricting device, comprising a semirigid band in the form of a closed loop adapted to embrace a portion of a light-emitting device,

. a light mask integral with said band and arranged so as to be disposed in the path of the emitted light, a collapsible hood carried by said 'band and adapted to effect different degrees of restriction of the light, and means operatively associated with said hood to effect snap movement of the same to its extended or retracted position Whenever the hood is moved a predetermined amount toward either position.

2. A light-restricting device, comprising a semirigid band in the form of a rectangular closed loop adapted to embrace a portion of a lightemitting device, a pair of light masks on opposite sides of said band integral with said band and arranged so as to be disposed in the path of the emitted light, a pair of collapsible hoods carried by said band in cooperative relation with said light masks and adapted to effect different degrees of restriction of the light, and means operatively associated with each of said hoods to efiect snap movement of the same to its extended or retracted position whenever the hood is moved a predetermined amount toward either position.

3. A light-restricting device, comprising a semirlgid band in the form of a closed loop adapted to embrace a portion of a light-emitting device, a collapsible hood carried by said band and adapted to efiect difierent degrees of restriction of the light, and means operatively associated with said hood to effect snap movement of the same to its extended or retracted position whenever the hood is moved a predetermined amount toward either position. 1

4. A light-restricting device, comprising a semirigid band in the form of a closed loop adapted to embrace a portion of a light-emitting device, a pair of oppositely disposed collapsible hoods carried by said band and adapted to effect different degrees of restriction of the light, and means operatively associated with each of said hoods to eiTect snap movement of the same to its extended or retracted position whenever the hood is moved a predetermined amount toward either position.

5. A light-restricting device, comprising a semirigid band in the form of a closed loop adapted to embrace a portion of a light-emitting device, an arch member carried by said band, a collapsible hood supported by said arch member and adapted to efiect difierent degrees of restriction of the light, and means operatively associated with said hood to effect snap movement of the same to its extended or retracted position whenever the hood is moved a predetermined amount toward either position.

6. A light-restricting device, comprising a semirigid band in the form of a closed p adapted to embrace a portion of a light-emitting device, a collapsible hood carried by said band and having foldable side sections, said hood serving to effect different degrees of restriction of the light, and a U-shaped spring element secured to the main part of said hood and having its arms secured to the adjacent parts of the foldable side sections to eiTect snap movement of the hood to its extended or retracted position whenever the hood is moved a predetermined amount toward either position.

7. A light-restricting device, comprising a semirigid band in the form of a closed loop adapted to embrace a portion of a light-emitting device, a pair of oppositely disposed collapsible hoods carried by said band, each hood having foldable side sections and each serving to efiect different degrees of restriction of th light, and a U-shaped spring element secured to the main part of each hood and having its arms secured to the adjacent parts of the foldable side sections to effect snap movement of the hood to its extended or retracted position whenever the hood is moved a predetermined amount toward either position.

JOHN B. BAR'IOW. 

